A Plymouth police officer accused of perverting the course of justice has denied making up an allegation that she was assaulted by a musician on Union Street.

Lucy Clark, 30, a degree educated constable from Plymouth, told a jury she sticks by her account that her arm was grabbed and yanked by Sniece McMenamin, a mixed race singer, during an arrest in Union Street.

She denied her actions were racist or that she had lied, and said she had 'nothing to gain and everything to lose' by her actions.

"I've got nothing to prove," said Clark. "I'm not lying, I'm not a corrupt officer."

Clark is standing trial at Exeter Crown Court accused of perverting the course of justice. She denies the allegation.

Police on Union Street (Image: File image/Matt Gilley)

It relates to an incident on May 9, 2016.

The prosecution allege that Clark arrived at the scene of an argument in the street between police and a group of people, including Ms McMenamin. One man was on the floor having been arrested and Ms McMenamin was acting as a 'peacemaker'. Within moments of arriving Clark arrested Ms McMenamin for assaulting her. The allegation is that Clark maintained her story that she had been assaulted even after CCTV showed it had not taken place.

Clark told the jury that it had been her dream to be a police officer since she was a child. She had attended boarding school, and her father had been awarded an MBE by the Queen. She worked as a volunteer special constable after leaving university where she studied criminal justice, then joined Devon and Cornwall Police as a PCSO in 2013.

Defence counsel Mr Jamas Hodivala asked Clark: "The suggestion is you are not tolerant of others. That you are a rascist."

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"No, I'm not a racist at all. I treat everyone the same regardless of race, background and religion." said the defendant.

The incident in Union Street happened at about 4.30am.

Clark described being on duty and receiving a call for urgent assistance from a colleague. She knew CCTV covered Union Street because it was a 'hotspot' for crime at the weekend. When she arrived she said she could feel there was 'tension' in the air and lots of shouting and pointing.

"As I came out of the car my recollection is that Sniece came towards me waving her arms then grabbed my right arm and I say yanked my shoulder with the force of the pull," said Clark.

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She said the whole incident happened in a fraction of a second and that Ms McMenamin was being aggressive and 'volatile' at the time.

"Is this something you're fabricating?" asked Mr Hodivala.

"Not at all," said the defendant.

She said Ms McMenamin had grabbed the lower part of her arm. Clark arrested her and, with the help of colleagues, handcuffed her.

She denied lying about what had happened when she booked Ms McMenamin into Charles Cross police station that night.

"I'd do absolutely anything to prove I'm not," she said.

Ms McMenamin was detained but not charged with assault after the CCTV was viewed. She was given a caution for public disorder and possessing a small amount of cannabis.

"This investigation has been the most traumatic and devastating time of my life," Clark added.

Clark said she had been put on medication for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression, that she suffered nightmares and flashbacks, that she had cancelled her wedding and split from her boyfriend as a result.